Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- BAFTA Games Awards: All the Winners from 2003 to Today
- Clair Obscur Completes the Sweep by Winning “Best Game” at 2025-2026 BAFTA Games Awards
- Boss Fight Books to Get a New Look for Richard Moss’s “Age of Empires”
- GDC Awards: All the Winners from 1996 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins “Game of the Year” at 2025-2026 GDC Awards
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- We Pitched a Museum a 1993 Game Hint Line (And They Actually Said Yes) – Yarn Spinner (2026)
- The History Of The Word “Metroidvania” And How It Spread – A Critical Hit (2025)
- Creator of Hit Game Shovel Knight Is at a ‘Make or Break’ Moment – Bloomberg (2025)
- Shadow of the Colossus: An oral history – Design Room (2025)
- In 2005, games started rewiring our brains – The AV Club (2025)
Most Recent: PS3
Activision cranks up the hard rock for second batch of Guitar Hero Live tracks
Last week, Activision unveiled the first 24 songs that’ll make up the final tracklist for Guitar Hero Live. The tracks covered a wide range of musical styles including blues (Gary Clark Jr.), pop (Ed Sheeran), pop punk (Fall Out Boy, Green Day, My Chemical Romance), alternative (The Killers), and even some techno (Skrillex).
But for this week’s “Tracklist Tuesday,” Activision wanted to go a little harder with ten selections from the hard rock and heavy metal acts that’ll be included on Guitar Hero Live’s soundtrack:
- Bring Me the Horizon – “Shadow Moses”
- Deftones – “Diamond Eyes”
- Killswitch Engage – “In Due Time”
- Marilyn Manson – “Disposable Teens”
- Marmozets – “Move Shake Hide”
- Mastodon – “High Road”
- Of Mice & Men – “Bones Exposed”
- Royal Blood – “Little Monster”
- Trivium – “Strife”
- Vista Chino – “Sweet Remain”
Most of these bands are unknown to me, but I think I was most surprised to learn that Marilyn Manson is still a thing. Guitar Hero Live will be released this Fall for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U.
The Witcher 3, Farming Simulator 15, Life Is Strange: Episode 3 added to PS Store
Woo hoo Witcher man see how high he flies
Woo hoo Witcher man he got the moon in his eye
Nah, doesn’t have the right ring to it… Lyrical paraphrasing aside, CD Projekt finally added The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to the PlayStation Store this week and the final adventure of Geralt of Rivia can now be explored in full. And explored, and explored some more, as The Witcher 3 is supposed to be an absolutely massive open-world RPG.
If hunting isn’t your thing, how about farming? Farming Simulator 15 is now available on the PlayStation Store for the PS3 and PS4 courtesy of publisher Focus Home Interactive. Farming Simulator 15 is said to feature a “brand new graphics and physics engine” for the most realistic farming ever and online multiplayer.
Also available this week is Life Is Strange: Chaos Theory (PS3, PS4), the third episode in Dontnod’s episodic adventure series. Max and Chloe have found even more “dark secrets” within the walls of Blackwell Academy and the pending apocalypse is closer than ever. Good thing Max can rewind time.
Finally this week, HyperDimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed transforms the HyperDimension Neptunia franchise into a hack and slash brawler for the first time. The Vita game features “frenzies of enemies” and a “whirlwind” of special attacks.
More details on all of these games can be found after the break and a full rundown of this week’s new game add-ons and discounts can be found at the PlayStation Blog. (more…)
Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Vita
Tagged Farming Simulator 15, Life Is Strange, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Take-Two CEO doesn’t know anything about GTA5 story expansion
Way back in December 2013, Rockstar Games announced that at least one “Story Mode Update” would be released for Grand Theft Auto V. The developer said they had “big plans” on how to expand the story, with the first expansion scheduled to launch in 2014.
Unless your name is Rip Van Winkle, you’re probably quite aware that we’re now in 2015 and no story expansions to Grand Theft Auto V have ever materialized. Instead, Rockstar has focused on the PS4/Xbox One port of Grand Theft Auto V, as well as GTA Online enhancements like Heists Mode. To further rub salt into the wound, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said he didn’t know anything about the expansion during yesterday’s investor Q&A:
Doug Creutz: When you had originally launched GTA5, I believe that you had said that there was going to be some story-based DLC content shipping eventually and obviously where your past game launch. Is that still something that you have planned? And I’m sure you’re not going to talk about timing but is there still something that’s in the pipeline for you guys, eventually? Thank you.
Strauss Zelnick: No, we haven’t discussed any story-based downloadable content. We did talk about the Heists and they’ve been released.
Doug Creutz: But I am correct in remembering that you had talked about that around the launch of the game?
Strauss Zelnick: We have different recollections.
Sadly for Zelnick, Take-Two executives also mentioned the work being done on GTA5’s story expansion so he owes Mr. Creutz an apology this morning. So what happened between then and now? Speaking to GameSpot, a Take-Two spokesman said that Zelnick “misspoke” and that “we leave it to Rockstar Games to share information about their games when they’re ready.”
While Take-Two has always deferred to Rockstar to make announcements on their own time, it’s troubling that the CEO of the company doesn’t remember a fairly major announcement concerning his most important product. It’s possible the Grand Theft Auto V story expansion is dead, but it’s just as possible Rockstar is working on it in secret. However, after the success of GTA Online, I think the latter scenario is unlikely.
2K has NBA 2K16, WWE 2K16, Battleborn, and a “new triple-A title” on tap for 2015
Take-Two Intereactive CEO Strauss Zelnick announced a trio of new titles during the company’s quarterly financial report yesterday. But two we already knew about and the third will remain under wraps until this year’s E3 Expo.
First, Zelnick confirmed that both of 2K’s annual franchises would receive new entries in 2015. WWE 2K16 will be released for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on October 27 while NBA 2K16 will be released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and mobile platforms sometime in the Fall, though NBA 2K titles typically launch in early October.
The CEO also revealed the company will release a “new triple-A title” during their current fiscal year:
Throughout the coming year, we will continue to execute our proven strategy of launching a select array of the highest-quality titles, led by new annual releases of NBA 2K and WWE 2K; Battleborn, a groundbreaking new intellectual property from Gearbox Software; and a soon-to-be announced new triple-A title from 2K.
This unannounced game is likely in development at Hangar 13, Take-Two’s newest internal studio. Rumor has it that Hangar 13 is working on Mafia III, but we won’t find out for sure until next month. And we may not get to play it until early next year as Take-Two’s fiscal year officially ends on March 31, 2016.
Finally, Zelnick confirmed that Gearbox’s latest, Battleborn, will also be released during the current fiscal year. More details on the colorful (and character-ful) shooter will be revealed ahead of the E3 Expo and during the show itself.
So your big takeaway from this announcement should be that Take-Two Intereactive is going to have a big presence at the 2015 E3 Expo.
UPDATE: 2K Games has confirmed that their “new triple-A title” is actually XCOM 2, which is currently in development at Firaxis.
Telltale will release Game of Thrones Episode 4: Sons of Winter “soon”
Telltale Games began teasing the fourth episode of their Game of Thrones adaptation on Twitter last night. One tweet promised the game’s next episode, Sons of Winter, would be released “soon” for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and mobile devices:
.@GameOfThrones: A @TelltaleGames Series – Ep 4 of 6: Sons of Winter – Download It Soon on Consoles, PC, Mac & Mobile pic.twitter.com/jM05RI5ntC
— Telltale Games (@telltalegames) May 17, 2015
Telltale followed up the tease with a stream of new screenshots featuring Daenerys, Beskha, a meeting between House Forrester and House Whitehill, a Wildling with a spear, and Gared Tuttle talking to Frostfinger.
As is Telltale’s MO, a trailer for Game of Thrones: Sons of Winter should appear sometime this week alongside an official release date.
New Releases: The Witcher 3, Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario, Farming Simulator 15, More
A quartet of new games will be available on store shelves this week including one of the year’s biggest new releases.
CD Projekt’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a massive, sprawling RPG that ends Geralt of Rivia’s story in the biggest way possible. If you haven’t seen of the trailers or gameplay walkthroughs (Conan O’Brien’s “Clueless Gamer” segment is particularly enlightening), you should fix that right now before The Witcher 3 launches on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on Tuesday.
Also available on Tuesday are a pair of games that are nothing like The Witcher 3 and nothing like each other. First up is Farming Simulator 15, which is now available for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One after a PC launch last year. Farming Simulator 15 does just what it says on the box and gives players a simulation of what it’s like to be a farmer. This Tuesday’s other new release release, HyperDimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed for the Vita, doesn’t simulate anything approaching reality. Instead, it’s a beat ’em up that takes place within an anime-influenced recreation of the video game industry.
Finally, on Friday, Nintendo will bring the popular match-3/RPG hybridization Puzzle & Dragons to the 3DS for the first time. Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition is actually two separate takes on the concept, one of which stars Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and the rest of the Mushroom Kingdom.
That’s it for this week’s retail release report, but check back all week for details on all the new additions to the digital storefronts.
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Farming Simulator 15, Puzzle & Dragons Z, Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Play as Jason in Mortal Kombat X for free this weekend
Mortal Kombat X will get to try Jason Voorhees out for free this weekend in one of the game’s Living Towers.
Voorhees, the classic slasher from the Friday the 13th films, joined the other kombatants in NetherRealm’s latest last week as part of the Kombat Pack expansion. He’s the first of four characters who will be added to the game this year, he’ll eventually share the stage with The Predator, Mortal Kombat 4‘s Tanya, and the never-before-playable Tremor.
All three of Jason’s variations will be accessible in the Living Tower’s six fights, which will be available until Monday.
Flawless Retaility! Mortal Kombat X tops April 2015’s list of best-selling games
Mortal Kombat X killed the competition last month as it’s been crowned the top-selling game of April 2015 by The NPD Group. Aside from NetherRealm’s latest and Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin at #8, the tracking firm’s report showed a top ten that was comprised solely of returning titles including Grand Theft Auto V at #2, Battlefield Hardline at #3, MLB 15: The Show at #4, and the well-loved Minecraft at #5.
Overall, it was a good month for the game industry as total sales rose 3% over April 2014. It’s a small gain, but it’s a gain nonetheless.
“Overall sales across hardware, new physical software, and accessories in April 2015 grew by 3% over April 2014 due to the strength of new physical software sales, which offset losses from hardware and accessories,” The NPD Group’s Liam Callahan told GamesIndustry.biz.
April 2015’s top ten best-selling titles (which also includes CoD: Advanced Warfare, NBA 2K15, the fourth Super Smash Bros. game, and a remastered Borderlands collection) can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Battlefield Hardline, Borderlands 2, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Dark Souls II, Grand Theft Auto V, Minecraft, MLB 15: The Show, Mortal Kombat X, NBA 2K15, NPD, Super Smash Bros. For 3DS, Super Smash Bros. For Wii U